How to Host a Summer Backyard Party
Longer days are here and your outdoor living space is begging to be seen by friends. San Diego summers were basically made for throwing backyard parties, especially when your backyard is set up for it. If you are preparing for a big backyard bash, you might be feeling overwhelmed with all the options there are and figuring out what would be best for your get together. Don’t worry though, we decided to put together our top tips for throwing a summer backyard party that will impress your guests.
Establish a Style.
When you are in the party planning phase, take some time to consider what type of style you want your summer backyard party to have. Are you interested in hosting a casual, laid back party or an upscale, catered get together? Maybe you want a cozy ambiance with a farm-to-table meal or you could go for an unforgettable themed party where everyone has to dress the part. Once you determine your style, all your other party planning decisions will be easier to make. Check out this HGTV article for some fun theme ideas for your party.
Silverware and Plates.
One easy way to give your backyard party a classy touch is by ditching the disposable plates, cups, and silverware, and opting for the real stuff. By using real glassware, you are helping out the environment by reducing your waste and nobody has to suffer from a soggy paper plate that drips all over the place. Not to mention, real plates, glasses and silverware look so much better and will impress your guests. If you don’t have enough for your party, there are multiple places that offer inexpensive glasses and plates that you can hang on to for any future get togethers at home.
Raise the Bar.
This is a great opportunity to really impress your guests, but don’t make a mistake by overdoing it. There is no need to provide endless options of drinks for everyone, just stick to a few popular items and a signature drink. We love some simple homemade sangria for summer backyard parties that you can prep ahead of time. If there are kids at the party, consider offering lemonade or another fun drink, like punch, for them to enjoy. Make sure to have plenty of water available and a few mixers and different alcohol types if your guests are interested in making their own concoctions.
Bring the Food Outside.
If you’re hosting a summer backyard party, you need to have some tasty food for your guests to enjoy. We recommend sticking to small bites that are available throughout the party. This ensures that guests don’t go hungry and can eat as they please while the festivities continue. Offer a few different food stations throughout your party so your guests don’t all get stuck in one area and provide a variety of options, while considering common food allergies. If you are planning on having a sit down dinner, keep things simple by sticking to one main dish with a few different options for sides.
Provide Enough Seating.
We love offering seating at varying height levels to keep the party flowing throughout the evening. Create an intimate gathering spot by the fire with low-slung chairs and offer some lounge areas for your guests to have casual conversations in a relaxing, laid back vibe. Make sure you have enough seating throughout the party for all your friends to enjoy. If you aren’t serving a main meal at your party, keep the seating casual. However, if you are serving dinner then you should offer enough large tables with chairs around them so people can sit together at the tables and enjoy their meal.
Light up the Place.
When figuring out lighting for your summer backyard party, you should be looking to provide ambient lighting that isn’t too bright or overwhelming. Consider putting lanterns or string lights around your deck, pergola, fence, tree branches, or areas near central hang out spots to give a romantic touch. These are stylish and provide just enough lighting for a nice warm glow for your guests to enjoy. You can also put some candles throughout your space as long as they are in a safe spot and stick to unscented ones that won’t take away from the smells of the tasty food you’re serving.
Music is Key.
Music is such an important part of any party and you don’t want to mess it up. Don’t go overboard and crank your speakers up as loud as possible – your guests will feel uncomfortable and won’t be able to talk to each other. If you have speakers, place them above ear level and face them towards the house so the sound spreads nicely. Stick to classic songs that people recognize, while mixing it up with some newer upbeat tunes that make you feel good. You should plan to have enough music for about 5 hours before the playlist repeats.
Games.
If you have enough space in your backyard, providing some entertaining games for both adults and kids is a great way to keep the fun going. Bocce ball, bag toss (or cornhole), and ring toss are all fun, simple games that anyone can easily play and they will ensure your guests are entertained throughout the night.
Prepare Ahead of Time.
One disadvantage of hosting a party can be that you don’t even get to enjoy it because you are constantly working, running around, and making sure everything is going smoothly. By planning ahead and prepping as much as you can before the party, you can make sure you get to relax a bit and enjoy your get together. One easy way to do this is to just have your party catered instead of making everything yourself. If that isn’t an option, then prep your side dishes, salads, and appetizers before the event so they are ready to be heated and served. Also consider going with some meat on the barbecue that takes a while to cook so you can easily step away compared to something like burgers that you constantly have to supervise. Maybe even buy the side dishes and salads so you don’t have to make everything yourself. One other way to help ease the stress of party planning is to hire a yard service to come ahead of time to mow, rake, and tidy up your space so you don’t have to worry about it. After-all, you want to be able to enjoy this amazing summer backyard party too!
If you are getting ready to host a summer backyard party, there are many things to consider. Remember that simplicity is key and you don’t have to overdo it to impress your guests. Stick to the basics and provide a cozy place for people to enjoy as the night goes on. If your backyard is lacking in style and you are ready for an outdoor living space that was made for entertaining, let’s talk! We love creating balanced outdoor living spaces that are both great for entertaining and enjoying day-to-day.